2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Reviews

2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS 3.5 V6 from North America

Summary:

Faults:

Water pump - it was my sister's fault for not putting water in the car.

General Comments:

This is actually my sister's car. But since I got my learners permit (I am 15), I have spent a great deal of driving it.

The Monte Carlo is known for being one of America's muscle cars. So it's sort of a shock for such a legendary vehicle to have a Front Wheel Drive layout.

Engine/Transmission Performance - GM replaced the 3.8 engine. It had been in production for like forever! This was the engine used in the previous Monte Carlos. But this engine just made you feel so disconnected from the car.

All new for 2006, the Monte Carlo comes with three engine choices. 3.5 on the LS (I will be reviewing). 3.9 on the LT and the motorheads dream the 5.3. The 3.5 is very impressive, throttle response is incredible compared to the aged 3.8 most of its torque is achieved at 2-5 rpm. Acceleration is pretty good for a car this size.

I have come to believe that this engine will have stellar reliability, knock on wood. She first bought the car at 28000 miles. The Monte now has 102000 miles on the clock and not a speck of trouble.

Beware that transmission fluid is 7.19 cents a quart. The transmission has really good gear ratio to provide crisp shifting and better acceleration. It's really touchy from the start, and you can bump the gears every now and then, but it's held up to some abuse and still does good.

Suspension/Handling/Driving Dynamics.

This car handles very very well for its size. On par with my aunts 350z (I've driven). It's really fun to drive. I particularly enjoy highway driving in this car; it's so stable! No wobble compared to an Impala or Grand Prix. I can take a really deep curve at 75-80 MPH with no wobble, but serious understeer can become a problem if steering is jerky.

Interior/Exterior.

Interior is basic and bland, well insulated though. Seats are pretty harsh because they are so tall. Interior room is ample even in the back. Interior quality is also good, no squeaks or rattles.

Exterior is well fit, there seem to be no gaps, and everything is well thought out. The headlights seem to be bulgy to me.

14th Jan 2010, 17:40

There was nothing wrong with the 3800 engine, it was arguably one of GM's best engines. But I suppose you do have to move on.

The 3500 is indeed a fine engine, until the head gaskets start leaking. Which they all will/already do. You'd think after all of this trouble, that GM would know how to design a gasket. Not yet apparently. The coolant crossover gaskets are also very prone to fail. I'm replacing mine today. Not a job for the faint at heart. And very expensive otherwise.

And as for "it's so stable! No wobble compared to an Impala or Grand Prix.", All three of the cars are on the same platform, sharing much of the same parts. If there was wobble with the others, there was something wrong.

The Grand Prix should handle the best of the three; most got better suspensions.

2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS 5.3L V8 from North America

Summary:

This car is awesome

Faults:

Power steering hose clamp came loose around 5000 miles. This was under recall and was fixed within a few hours by the dealer.

General Comments:

Its about time GM started putting V8s back into cars. The Engine runs great and gets me an average of 23.5mpg combined city/highway. I put over 20,000 miles on it in the first year and I have to say it is very comfortable for cross country driving. It has lots of storage capacity and more than enough power to for regular and aggressive driving. The car handles great at all speeds (even over 100mph) and rides like a luxury car. The dash is really open and clean looking. I would definitely buy another one, but this one looks like it will probably last me for at least 8 or 9 years.

6th Oct 2007, 20:57

I always wondered on this car how you got past the styling, especially the side styling. I guess it is a "love it or hate" scenario, and I tend to be on the latter. To me this car is a throwback to the 70s.

How bad is torque steer on this car? 300 HP to the front wheels...wow.

But hey man, if you are happy with it, who cares right? I am glad Chevy is discontinuing it looking into RWD cars.

23rd Feb 2008, 23:33

I agree with the first commenter on the styling. These late-model Montes are some of the most hideous cars I have ever seen. I really cannot think of an uglier car, especially in base form with those terrible plastic seven-spoke wheel covers with the inferior paint that comes off!

They made the styling a tad bit better for '07 when they made the front look more like the Impala and put the Impala's nice 17' rims on it, but it is still a weird-looking car with a cheap interior. At least these are reasonably reliable from what I have seen.